News Releases

Salina Arts & Humanities announces that the 2013 Smoky Hill River Festival has been selected as one of the first stops on the statewide 60th Anniversary Celebration for KWCH 12 Television. In celebration of its 60 years of service, the station’s on-air celebrities and other staff will make personal appearances in more than 30 communities from May 2013 through mid-2014.

Founded in 1953 and now based in Wichita, KWCH is the state's longest-running television station and has served much of Kansas as an important community partner through the decades, offering highly rated weather, sports, and news coverage featuring well-known on-air talent including Roger Cornish, Cindy Klose, Merril Teller, and Ross Janssen.

“We are excited to help celebrate the 60th Anniversary of KWCH 12 at the Smoky Hill River Festival,” says Brad Anderson, Salina Arts & Humanities director. “Part of the continued success of the Festival can be attributed to important media partners like Channel 12, so we’re excited to welcome them to Salina and the Festival this year.”
For KWCH’s Anniversary Celebration stop on Festival Saturday, June 8, Salina news bureau reporter Samantha Anderson will be a special guest at the invitation-only Art Patron Breakfast, scheduled for 8 a.m. in the formal Rose Garden of Oakdale Park. Anderson also will interact with Festival-goers through the morning in the brand-new Artyopolis children’s area and at other Festival locations.

In the afternoon, KWCH 12 Eyewitness News anchor Cindy Klose will present a portion of the Festival’s Fine Art Show Awards at 2:45 p.m. on Stage II. Klose also will introduce Festival entertainers Lake Street Dive at 5 p.m. on the Eric Stein Stage, and may do a live news report near the Main Stage to air during the Saturday 6 p.m. Evening News. During their time at the Festival, both Anderson and Klose will be available to mingle and visit with Festival-goers and their families.

The Smoky Hill River Festival, now in its 37th year, is the flagship event of Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina. The River Festival draws more than 60,000 local residents and out-of-town guests annually to Salina and Oakdale Park to enjoy outdoor art installations, the Fine Art and Four Rivers Craft Shows, four stages of live entertainment, children’s activities, and more. The Festival also generates $3.5 million for the Salina economy.

For more information on the KWCH-Channel 12 60th Anniversary Celebration or for details on how and where to purchase Festival admission Buttons, T-shirts and Gift Certificates in advance, go to kwch.com/news/60th/, call 785-309-5770 or visit riverfestival.com, or find ‘Smoky Hill River Festival’ on Facebook and Twitter.

For needed accommodations, please call Kathy Burlew at Salina Arts & Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina, has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966. The Smoky Hill River Festival, Horizons Grants Program, Smoky Hill Museum, Arts Infusion Program in schools, Cultural Connections, and Art a la Carte concert series are among the programs of Salina Arts & Humanities, located at 211 W. Iron Avenue in Salina.